Microsoft PowerPoint Sound Data (CVE-2009-1128) Multiple Remote Code Execution Vulnerabilities

Description

Microsoft PowerPoint is prone to multiple remote code-execution vulnerabilities An attacker could exploit these issues by enticing a victim to open a malicious PowerPoint file. Successfully exploiting these issues would allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the currently logged-in user.

Technologies Affected

• Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 SP2
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 SR1
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2000 SP3
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2002 SP1
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2002 SP2
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2002 SP3
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2003
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 SP1
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 SP2
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 SP3

Recommendations

Run all software as a nonprivileged user with minimal access rights.
To mitigate the impact of a successful exploit, run the affected application as a user with minimal access rights.

Deploy network intrusion detection systems to monitor network traffic for malicious activity.
Deploy NIDS to monitor network traffic for signs of suspicious or anomalous activity. This may help detect malicious actions that an attacker may take after successfully exploiting vulnerabilities in applications. Review all applicable logs regularly.

Do not accept or execute files from untrusted or unknown sources.
Never accept files from untrusted or unknown sources, because they may be malicious in nature. Avoid opening email attachments from unknown or questionable sources.

Implement multiple redundant layers of security.
Since this issue may be leveraged to execute code, we recommend memory-protection schemes, such as nonexecutable stack/heap configurations and randomly mapped memory segments. This tactic may complicate exploit attempts of memory-corruption vulnerabilities.

The vendor has released an advisory and updates. Please see the references for details.